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TUESDAY EDITION: I am out the door early getting my wife to the hospital for a CT scan in prep for her lung procedure tomorrow, a biopsy of the  lump in her lung...

SAQ Grimeton On the Air for 100th Anniversary July 2nd

On July 2nd, Grimeton Radio Station in Sweden will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its inaugural transmission. Officially inaugurated on Juy 2nd, 1925, the 200kW Alternator made contact with Long Island in the US.

The king of Sweden, Gustav V, the inventor of the amazing 200kW Alternator and the massive six tower antenna, Ernst F.W. Alexanderson, as well as the vice president of Radio Corporation of America, David Sarnoff was there, together with several other prominent guests. The large and shiny Alexanderson Alternator was put to life and a message to the American president Calvin Coolidge was transmitted to the receiving station at Riverhead, Long Island NY, USA. The american president replied and assessed the new radio installations as crucial for relations between Sweden and the USA.

Callsign SAQ will be on the air on VLF 17.2 kHz CW on July 2, 2025.

First Transmission

• 10:20 CEST (08:20 UTC) Live YouTube broadcast begins
• 10:30 CEST (08:30 UTC) Start-up of the Alternator
• 11:00 CEST (09:00 UTC) Transmission of a message

Second transmission

• 14:20 CEST (12:20 UTC) Live YouTube broadcast begins
• 14:30 CEST (12:30 UTC) Start-up of the Alternator
• 15:00 CEST (13:00 UTC) Transmission of a message

A test transmission will occur on July 1 between 13:00 – 16:00 CEST. Tickets are available for those wishing to attend in person. Transmissions will be streamed on YouTube.

The amateur radio station SK6SAQ will be on the air as well:

• 3 517.2 kHz CW
• 7.017.2 kHz CW
• 14.017.2 KHz CW
• 3.755 kHz SSB
• 7.140 kHz SSB

Source: The Alexander association

Ham Radio Reports Fire; Helicopter Crew Extinguishes Just in Time

 

 

My Alinco 330 power supply which I have never hut off for over 7 years finally needed a a fan replacement, I couldn't believe how much dust was inside the cabinet. It was on the floor next to my bed powering the Yaesu FTM400....The fan was just $10.00 on eBay delivered, still waiting for it.

MONDAY EDITION: Busy weekend with the club meeting on Saturday and Fathers Day on Sunday, nice times were had by all....Would not want to be this guy....

13 Colonies Event Founder Passing the Reins After 16 Years

The 13 Colonies 2025, a popular summer operating event, will take place less than a month from now, on July 1, 9:00 AM to July 7, midnight EDT (July 1 – 1300 UTC – July 8 – 0400 UTC).

This year the event will honor founder Ken Villone, KU2US, who is passing the torch to Tony Jones, N4ATJ. Villone has led the event for 16 years by working with state and bonus station coordinators and has grown from making approximately 12,000 contacts in 2009 to making 292,496 contacts around the world in 2024.

This year, one station will be operating in each of the 13 original British colonies, K2A – K2M, along with three bonus stations — WM3PEN, Philadelphia; GB13COL, England, and TM13COL, France — each representing their city, state, or country’s role in America’s colonial period.

Villone said event actually started 2008, right after he finished participating in the ARRL Sweepstakes.

Read more

American Radio Relay League | Ham Radio Association and Resources – Read More

Morse Maven—Your New Morse Code Learning Companion

Editor's Note: Morse Maven takes advantage of Amateur Radio Daily's Creative Commons license to utilize content from this website as training material within the app. —K4HCK

By Dav (M0WDV), the author of Morse Maven

I'm thrilled to introduce Morse Maven, an app I’ve poured the last 12 months into, designed to guide you from your very first dit to fluent CW conversations.

Why Morse Maven? My Quest for a Better Way to Learn

My own Morse journey started about three years ago. Like many, I turned to the app stores, downloading various trainers. It was a mixed bag – some good, some not so much, each with its own quirks. I began with an app that played Morse sounds, and I'd diligently type what I heard. Progress! Or so I thought.

The "aha!" (or perhaps, "oops!") moment came when I realized I wasn't truly hearing the Morse in my head. Instead, my brain, in its clever quest for shortcuts, had simply mapped the sounds to my QWERTY keyboard-typing fingers! I was teaching my fingers, not my ears, and I had to read what I’d typed to understand the Morse. This highlighted a crucial flaw: typing could be a crutch, not a learning aid in those early stages. I imagined an app that would let me silently recognise characters, only flagging those I struggled with, allowing the software to intelligently tailor the practice.

Later, as I aimed to boost my speed, I discovered the fantastic Morse Code Ninja resources on YouTube – hours of words at various speeds. Invaluable, yes, but with a couple of hitches. Listening in the background without YouTube Premium was a no-go, and after a while, those brain cells started finding shortcuts again, this time memorising the sequence of words ("Aha, 'ready' is always followed by 'must' in this bit!"). I was learning the playlist, not truly decoding fresh Morse.

I knew there had to be a more effective, flexible, and truly adaptive way. And so, Morse Maven was conceived.

Morse Maven: The App I Wished I Had

I set out to build the tool I needed at each stage of my learning: from absolute beginner to someone pushing for higher speeds (I’m now using the app daily in the advanced training modes). This isn't just another Morse app; it's a comprehensive learning and practice partner, designed from the ground up based on real learning experiences and cognitive insights.

Smart Learning Under the Hood

Morse Maven isn't just about playing sounds; it's about how you learn them.

• The Koch Method – Building a Solid Foundation: For beginners, the app employs the renowned Koch method. Instead of overwhelming you with the entire alphabet at once, you start with just two characters. You listen to them at your target speed, but only those two. Once you can recognise them with high accuracy (90%), another two characters are added. This incremental approach ensures each character is deeply learned and reduces frustration. It’s a scientifically proven way to build that instant recognition reflex. Crucially, in Morse Maven’s beginner mode, there's no typing required. Just listen, and tap a button if you don’t recognise something. The app learns your sticking points and focuses on them.
• Farnsworth Spacing – Clarity at Speed: To help your brain distinguish character sounds effectively, especially when you're starting, Morse Maven uses Farnsworth spacing. This means the individual dits and dahs within a character are sent at your target speed (e.g., 25 WPM), but the space between each character, and between words, is initially extended. This gives you that little extra processing time to identify the character without feeling rushed. As you improve, this spacing is automatically tightened, smoothly bringing you up to full conversational speed.
• Smooth, Clear Audio: All Morse is generated with raised-cosine envelope shaping. This might sound technical, but it means the start and end of each dit and dah are slightly smoothed, preventing harsh clicks and making for a much more pleasant and easy-to-listen-to sound, crucial for longer practice sessions. You can also adjust the tone pitch to whatever is most comfortable for your ears.

A Path for Every Learner

The app is structured to grow with you:

• Beginner Section: Master the characters (alphabet, numbers, punctuation) using the Koch method. No pressure, no typing – just focused learning. A dedicated Practice mode lets you do ad-hoc exercises too.
• Intermediate Section: You know the characters, now it's time for words! Practice common words, callsigns, and random character sequences. Here, you can choose an interactive mode or, importantly, a continuous unattended mode. This means you can have Morse playing in the background, even with your phone on standby – perfect for practice while walking the dog, commuting, or doing chores. Turn dead time into practice time!
• Advanced Section: Ready to push your speed and comprehension? Listen to simulated on-air QSOs, Amateur Radio news bulletins in Morse, or even Morse audiobooks. These advanced activities also work in the continuous background mode, helping you get your speed up to 40 WPM.

Your Journey to Morse Mastery Starts Now

Learning Morse code requires commitment and practice. There are no magic bullets. But Morse Maven is designed to make that practice as effective, accessible, and enjoyable as possible. Whether you have five minutes or an hour, you can dive in and make progress.

Visit https://morsemaven.com/ to learn more about the app.

Source: Morse Maven open_in_new

 

FRIDAY EDITION: Online coax loss calculators that use SWR as one of the inputs certainly are convenient but can you trust the results? Alternative tools which are much more accurate are readily available....Today's dumbass award goes to this knucklehead....

Let’s Buy Commodore! Well, Somebody Is.

When a man wearing an Atari T-shirt tells you he’s buying Commodore it sounds like the plot for an improbable 1980s movie in which Nolan Bushnell and Jack Tramiel do battle before a neon synthwave sunset to a pulsating chiptune soundtrack. But here on the screen there’s that guy doing just that, It’s [Retro Recipes], and in the video below he’s assembling a licensing deal for the Commodore brand portfolio from the distant descendant of the Commodore of old.

It’s a fascinating story and we commend him for tracing a path through the mess that unfolded for Commodore in the 1990s. We tried the same research path with a friend a few years ago and ended up with an anonymous Dutch paper company that wouldn’t answer our calls, so we’re impressed. In conjunction with several other players in the Commodore retrocomputing world he’s trying to assemble a favourable percentage deal for manufacturers of new parts, computers, and other goodies, and we’re pleased to see that it’s for the smaller player as much as for the industry giant.

When looking at a story like this though, it’s important not to let your view become clouded by those rose tinted glasses. While it’s great that we’re likely to see a bunch of new Commodore-branded Commodore 64s and parts, there are many pitfalls in taking it beyond that. We’ve seen the Commodore logo on too many regrettable licensed products in the past, and we fear it might be too tempting for it to end up on yet another disappointing all-in-one video game or just another budget PC. If something new comes out under the Commodore brand we’d like it to be really special, exploiting new ground in the way the Amiga did back in the day. We can hope, because the alternative has dragged other famous brands through the mud in recent years.

If you want an insight into the roots of the original Commodore’s demise, have a read of our Hackaday colleague [Bil Herd]’s autobiography.

Look to the Sky With This Simple Plane Tracker

Do you ever get tired of stressing your neck looking for planes in the sky? Worry not! Here is a neat and cheap Arduino/Ras Pi project to keep your neck sore free! [BANK ANGLE] presents a wonderfully simple plane tracking system using an affordable camera and basic microcontrollers.

The bulk of the system relies on a cheap rotating security camera that gets dissected to reveal its internals. Here stepper control wires can be found and connected to the control boards required to allow an Arduino nano to tell the motors when and where to spin. Of course, the camera system doesn’t just look everywhere until it finds a plane, a Raspberry Pi takes in data from local ADS-B data to know where a nearby plane is.

After that, all that’s left is a nifty overlay to make the professional look. Combining all these creates a surprisingly capable system that gives information on the aircraft’s azimuth, elevation, and distance.

If you want to try your hand at making your own version of [BLANK ANGLE]’s tracker, check out his GitHub page. Of course, tracking planes gets boring after a while so why not try tracking something higher with this open-source star tracker?

 

Uranium glass capacitor...

THURSDAY EDITION: Sunny start to the day, I was thinking about the boat but it wil be a few weeks. My son is taking his wife and kids to Africa on a 14 day safari. When he gets home we will get it on the mooring, the boating season seems to get shorter each year....The U.S. Army will celebrate its 250th birthday on June 14, 2025. This significant milestone commemorates the Army's distinguished service to the nation, with the central theme for the celebration being “This We’ll Defend”. .....

Making a Backyard Observatory Replete With Retractable Roof

Here’s one for our astronomy geeks. Our hacker [arrow] has made their own observatory!

This particular video is a bit over ten minutes long and is basically a montage; there is no narration or explanation given, but you can watch clear progress being made and the ultimate success of the backyard facility.

Obviously the coolest thing about this building is that the roof can be moved, but those telescope mounts look pretty sexy too. About halfway through the video the concrete slab that was supporting one metal mounting pole gets torn up so that two replacements can be installed, thereby doubling the capacity of the observatory from one telescope to two.

If you’re an astronomy wonk you might enjoy some of [arrow]’s other videos. Maybe with their observatory [arrow] will solve the problem of dark matter. We’ve covered heaps of astronomy stuff here at Hackaday before including how to make your own telescope right down to the glass and the world’s highest altitude infrared telescope.

The following are updates from recently published newsletters focused on ham radio.

Ria's Ham Shack: A preview of Dayton Hamvention
Ham radio's biggest annual event. This week I talk about activities at Hamvention in Ohio - what I plan to do and things you can do.
Ria's Ham Shack

Random Wire Review: Issue 130
Issue 130 leans into M17, covering an M17 radio, connecting to Kansas City Wide, configuring WPSD, and getting started free on M17. A beautiful new full-duplex AllStar node is available.
The Random Wire

Zero Retries 0201
Amateur Radio Isn’t Having All The (Radio) Fun, New Types of New Amateur Radio Operators… and Their Expectations, Langstone (V2) VHF / UHF Software Defined Radio Project, and more!
Zero Retries

Experimental Radio News 12
Satellite selfies, drilling with millimeter waves, mobile phone rescues, a hypersonic glider, and more.
Experimental Radio News

Radio Silence [068]
Do you sometimes wish that you can tear down your entire amateur radio station and start again? Not me, it was perfect.
73 from G5DOC

The Communicator May-June 2025 [PDF]
Mentoring Young Hams, Operation Manna, Computing Science and Ham Radio, Making a Better Heathkit Antenna, and more.
The Communicator

The Logger's Bark May 2025 [PDF]
Lamptenna 3, Numbers Stations, How FT8 Works, and more.
The Logger's Bark

 

WEDNESDAY EDITION: Open house at the club this morning, Field Day preperation. We will be having the event at our club but outside running batteries and not using any club antennas...we wil jse the kitchen though as this is a social event and we will be serving food all day. This club does not take contestng or anything els seriously but sure can eat free food...

A Brief History of Fuel Cells

Field Testing An Antenna, Using A Field

The ARRL used to have a requirement that any antenna advertised in their publications had to have real-world measurements accompanying it, to back up any claims of extravagant performance. I’m told that nowadays they will accept computer simulations instead, but it remains true that knowing what your antenna does rather than just thinking you know what it does gives you an advantage. I was reminded of this by a recent write-up in which the performance of a mylar sheet as a ground plane was tested at full power with a field strength meter, because about a decade ago I set out to characterise an antenna using real-world measurements and readily available equipment. I was in a sense field testing it, so of course the first step of the process was to find a field. A real one, with cows.

Walking Round And Round A Field In The Name Of Science

The process I was intending to follow was simple enough. Set up the antenna in the middle of the field, have it transmit some RF, and measure the signal strength at points along a series of radial lines away from it I’d end up with a spreadsheet, from which I could make a radial plot that would I hoped, give me a diagram showing its performance. It’s a rough and ready methodology, but given a field and a sunny afternoon, not one that should be too difficult.

I was more interested in the process than the antenna, so I picked up my trusty HB9CV two-element 144MHz antenna that I’ve stood and pointed at the ISS many times to catch SSTV transmissions. It’s made from two phased half-wave radiators, but it can be seen as something similar to a two-element Yagi array. I ran a long mains lead oput to a plastic garden table with the HB9CV attached, and set up a Raspberry Pi whose clock would produce the RF.

My receiver would be an Android tablet with an RTL-SDR receiver. That’s pretty sensitive for this purpose, so my transmitter would have to be extremely low powered. Ideally I would want no significant RF to make it beyond the boundary of the field, so I gave the Pi a resistive attenuator network designed to give an output of around 0.03 mW, or 30 μW. A quick bit of code to send my callsign as CW periodically to satisfy my licence conditions, and I was off with the tablet and a pen and paper. Walking round the field in a polar grid wasn’t as easy as it might seem, but I had a very long tape measure to help me.

A Lot Of Work To Tell Me What I Already Knew

I ended up with a page of figures, and then a spreadsheet which I’m amused to still find in the depths of my project folder. It contains a table of angles of incidence to the antenna versus metres from the antenna, and the data points are the figure in (uncalibrated) mV that the SDR gave me for the carrier at that point. The resulting polar plot shows the performace of the antenna at each angle, and unsurprisingly I proved to myself that a HB9CV is indeed a directional antenna.

My experiment was in itself not of much use other than to prove to myself I could characterise an antenna with extremely basic equipment. But then again it’s possible that in times past this might have been a much more difficult task, so knowing I can do it at all is an interesting conclusion.

MONDAY EDITION: Will the balloon make it around the globe? It's hallway across the ocean now and heading for the good old USA.The purple dots are stations that can hear the balloons transmitter on WSPR...

Determine Fundamental Constants with LEDs and a Multimeter

There are (probably) less than two dozen fundemental constants that define the physics of our universe. Determining the value of them might seem like the sort of thing for large, well funded University labs, but many can be determined to reasonable accuracy on the benchtop, as [Marb’s Lab] proves with this experiment to find the value of Planck’s Constant.

[Marv’s Lab] setup is on a nice PCB that uses a rotary switch to select between 5 LEDs of different wavelengths, with banana plugs for the multi-meter so he can perform a linear regression on the relation between energy and frequency to find the constant. He’s also thoughtfully put connectors in place for current measurement, so the volt-current relationship of the LEDs can be characterized in a second experiment. Overall, this is a piece of kit that would not be out of place in any high school or undergraduate physics lab.

To use this to determine Planck’s constant, you need to use Planck’s relation for the energy of a photon:

E = hf

Get some Energies (E), get some energies (f), and bam! You can generate a value for h, Planck’s constant. The energies? Well, that’s a very easy measurement, but it requires some understanding of how LEDs work. [Marb] is simply measuring the voltage needed to just barely light the LED of a given frequency. (For frequency, he’s relying on the LED datasheets.) That translates to the energy of the photon because it corresponds to the energy (in electron volts) required to jump electrons over the bandgap of the semiconductor in the LED– that’s how the light is generated. Those photons will have the energy of the gap, in theory.

In practice, the LEDs do not emit perfectly monochromatic light; there’s a normal distribution centered on the color they’re “supposed” to be, but it is fairly tight. That’s probably why is able to [Marv] get to within 5% of the canonical value, which is better than we’d expect.

This isn’t the first time we’ve determined Planck’s constant; it’s quite possible to get to much higher accuracy. The last time we featured this particular technique, the error was 11%.

13 Colonies Event Founder Passing the Reins After 16 Years

WEEKEND EDITION: The balloon made it over North Korea and is now over Japan Saturday morning....

AMSAT Designates SO-125 New FM Repeater Satellite

AMSAT has designated the recently launched HADES-ICM satellite as SO-125 (Spain-OSCAR 125). SO-125 was launched from a Falcon 9 rocket as HADES-ICM in March of this year. The satellite is a 1.5U PocketQube and contains an SDR based FM and digital repeater for amateur radio use.

The satellite carries an FM and digital repeater payload, built on an improved SDR-based platform capable of transmitting up to 0.25W when battery conditions allow. This makes it accessible to stations using handheld antennas like the Arrow antenna.

• Uplink frequency: 145.875 MHz
• Downlink frequency: 436.666 MHz
• No subtone required

Source: AMSAT

Amateur Radio Daily – Read More

ARRL Accepting Amateur Radio Grant Applications

The ARRL Foundation is accepting grant applications from amateur radio organizations for eligible amateur radio-related projects and initiatives, particularly those focused on educating, licensing, and supporting amateur radio activities. To grow amateur radio’s future, youth-based projects and initiatives are especially encouraged.

Amateur radio organizations may apply here.

Source: ARRL

Amateur Radio Daily – Read More

 

Casting Shade on “Shade-Tolerant” Solar Panels

Shade is the mortal enemy of solar panels; even a little shade can cause a disproportionate drop in power output. [Alex Beale] reviewed a “revolutionary” shade-tolerant panel by Renology in a video embedded below. The results are fascinating.

While shading large portions of the panels using cardboard to cut off rows of cells, or columns of cells, the shade tolerant panel does very well compared to the standard panel– but when natural, uneven shading is applied to the panel, very little difference is seen between the standard and active panels in [Alex]’s test.  We suspect there must be some active components to keep power flowing around shaded cells in the Renology panel, allowing it to perform well in the cardboard tests. When the whole panel is partially shaded, there’s no routing around it, and it performs normally.

It’s hard to see a real-world case that would justify the extra cost, since most shading doesn’t come with perfect straight-line cutoffs. Especially considering the added cost for this “shade tolerant” technology (roughly double normal panels).

You might see a better boost by cooling your solar panels. Of course you can’t forget to optimize the output with MPPT. It’s possible that a better MPPT setup might have let the Renology panel shine in this video, but we’re not certain. Whatever panels you’re using, though, don’t forget to keep them clean.

Blog – Hackaday Read More

Amateur Radio Newsline Report

2 FCC COMMISSIONERS LEAVING AGENCY

**
STEPP-IR TO END AMATEUR ANTENNA PRODUCTION

PAUL/ANCHOR: The popular amateur radio antennas manufactured by SteppIR are being discontinued. The company announced that it is halting their production this summer. Jim Damron N8TMW has the details.

JIM: SteppIR has announced that it is stopping production of all amateur radio and other consumer antennas starting in August. The company's statement, which appears on its website, said that it would continue to honor all product warranties and provide technical support as needed.

The company said: [quote] "Given our long history of impact and innovation we don't take this decision lightly but have decided that it is necessary for our ongoing operations and to make sure we can continue to efficiently provide our existing customers with product support services." [endquote]

All antenna and spare-parts orders will be fulfilled by the company through to the end of August. After the 31st of the month, SteppIR will sell spare parts as long as the inventory permits.

Based in Washington state, the company has been well-known in the amateur radio community since 2001. SteppIR produces a variety of mechanically adjusted, remotely tuned, frequency optimized HF/VHF Yagi, Vertical and Dipole antenna systems which serve military, commercial, emergency communications and consumer markets.

This is Jim Damron N8TMW.

(STEPP-IR)

**
WEATHER RADIO STATIONS GO OFF AIR FOR UPDATES

PAUL/ANCHOR: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is in the process of temporarily taking its radio stations off the air for scheduled updates - and Randy Sly W4XJ tells us what to expect.

RANDY: As some parts of the United States enter hurricane season, which officially began on June 1st, the National Weather Service is continuing with its nationwide update of their Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System. The system is used for weather data processing and communications, two functions that are especially critical during storms and other weather-related emergencies.

The upgrades will be taking more than 1,000 radio stations of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration off the air, on a rolling basis, for 2 to 3 days in a scheduled roll-out for their 122 Weather Forecast Offices. Broadcasters and ham radio groups have expressed concern about not having access to these emergency stations during those periods.

NOAA Weather Radio, known as the “Voice of the National Weather Service,” is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest Weather Forecast office. These stations broadcast official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The NWS is using social media and other means to inform citizens in the affected areas when their stations will be out of service. They are also encouraging citizens to rely on alternate sources for weather warnings during the outage, including local TV and radio, weather apps, and NWS websites.

This is Randy Sly, W4XJ

**
DXPEDITION TEAM RETURNS TO SABLE ISLAND

PAUL/ANCHOR: The Sable Island DXpedition team is heading back there next year - and they'll have company. John Williams VK4JJW has that report.

JOHN: The CYØS team of DXpeditioners will be returning to Sable Island in 2026. The operators announced in a press release that Parks Canada - Sable Island has invited them to return next March and has approved their plans for a 10- to 12-day DXpedition. As they set up to operate on this remote island in Atlantic Canada, they'll have some welcome company: operators from the CY9C DXpedition team who had activated St. Paul Island in 2024. The CY9C operators knew that year that their successful activation on St. Paul was likely to be the last for a long time on that challenging, environmentally sensitive landscape. Like Sable Island, St. Paul Island is considered one of the more difficult DXpedition destinations in North America. Windswept Sable Island is perhaps best known for its population of wild horses.

Team leaders for Sable Island will be Murray WA4DAN and Glenn WØGJ. A website has already been set up at CYØS.com by webmaster Chaz W4GKF.

This is John Williams VK4JJW.

(425 DX BULLETIN, DX WORLD)

**
FCC PROPOSES $25,000 FINE AGAINST CB OPERATOR

PAUL/ANCHOR: A Citizens Band operator is facing a fine after the FCC charged him with a series of operating violations. We hear more from Kevin Trotman N5PRE.

KEVIN: An Illinois man faces a $25,000 penalty from the FCC for unauthorized operation of a Citizens Band radio. The agency announced its decision on May 30th, 2025, two years to the day after it issued a Notice of Apparent Liability against Jayme John Leon. The agency's Enforcement Bureau said that he repeatedly voided his operating authority by sending [quote] "nonverbal, indecipherable sound effects over long periods" [endquote], causing malicious interference and engaging in one-way transmissions. According to the FCC document, Leon did not file a response to the 2023 Notice of Liability.

Citizens Band radio is not a licensed service in the United States. Operators retain the privilege of using CB by agreeing to comply with relevant regulations stipulated in the Communications Act of 1934.

**
NASA's 'SPOT THE STATION' WEBSITE BEING DISCONTINUED

PAUL/ANCHOR: NASA will no longer operate its "Spot the Station" website for fans of the International Space Station. Sel Embee KB3TZD explains.

SEL: If you like to keep tabs on the International Space Station and you’ve been doing so via NASA's Spot the Station website, you will need to change your space-station viewing strategy starting the 12th of June. NASA will be discontinuing the website as of that date and will no longer display opportunities for sightings on their site. Subscribed users who have been receiving text and email notifications linking them to the website will no longer have this option either.

The announcement on the website now directs ISS watchers to instead download NASA’s official “Spot the Station” mobile app onto their Apple or Android smartphones. The “Spot the Station” app expands notification of viewing opportunities in the United States and across the globe, as well as providing additional capabilities to improve user experiences.

This is Sel Embee, K-B-3-T-Zed-D.

(NASA.GOV)
**
SPECIAL EVENT STATION MARKS 65th ANNIVERSARY OF CANADIAN TRAIL

PAUL/ANCHOR; Throughout the month of June, hams are celebrating an important hiking trail in New Brunswick, Canada. Travis Lisk N3ILS has those details.

TRAVIS: There's a lot of history stretching along the distance of nearly 60-kilometres, or 36 miles, that define Canada's Dobson Trail, a pre-eminent hiking trail in New Brunswick. The nation's longest trail to be maintained by volunteers, it is amply populated with a number of sites in the World Wide Flora & Fauna programme. The trail is the first part of the Fundy Footpath in Atlantic Canada.

Named for the outdoorsman Art Dobson who led the volunteers as they carved out and built the trail by hand, it marks its 65th anniversary this year. Throughout June, special event station VC9DT will be on the air celebrating by calling CQ. The Atlantic Coast DX and Contest Group, VE9ACC, and the Canadian chapter of World Wide Flora & Fauna will be activating the special callsign on different locations along the trail and on various bands using SSB and FT8/FT4.

**
BROADCAST HONORS ARMSTRONG'S DEMO OF FM RADIO

PAUL/ANCHOR: Be listening on June 19th for a special FM radio broadcast celebrating Edwin Armstrong's development of FM radio. Kent Peterson KCØDGY tells us about the special programming that's planned.

KENT: The callsign W2XMN is etched in cement atop the doorway of the small brick transmitter building in New Jersey, not far from the radio tower where history's first FM broadcasts began in 1938. Those steady transmissions became a reality only three years after engineer and inventor Edwin Armstrong had given a public demonstration at an engineering conference, showing that frequency modulation radio could deliver static-free sound, graced with a remarkable fidelity that was previously unheard of.

FM broadcasting will return temporarily to W2XMN's original VHF low-band frequency, 42.8 MHz, beginning at noon on Thursday the 19th of June. The northern New Jersey tower once used by W2XMN will broadcast a repeat of programming first aired in 2005 to commemorate Armstrong's successful FM demonstration in 1935. The content includes interviews wth Armstrong's niece, Jeanne Hammond, and with Tom Lewis, author of the book, "Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio."

According to a report on the RadioWorld.com website, a restored Phasitron transmitter will be running 250 watts of power into a vertical antenna.

The structure known as the Alpine Tower is still in use today. Radio station WFDU, the public radio station licensed to Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, is on the air at 89.1 -- FM, of course.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(RADIO WORLD)

**
LEADERSHIP CHANGE FOR 13 COLONIES SPECIAL EVENT

PAUL/ANCHOR: One of the season's most popular HF operating events here in the US is honoring its founder as he steps away from 16 years at its helm. Mark Abramowicz NT3V has the details…

MARK: If you haven’t heard of the 13 Colonies Special Event or heard stations calling in the annual activity between July 1 and July 8, you have missed a unique opportunity to celebrate the history of the US and mark the American Revolution.

Ken Villone, KU2US, who conceived the idea of activating stations in the 13 original colonies, is going into semi-retirement.

Villone is passing on the responsibility for event coordination to Tony James N4ATJ, of McAdenville, North Carolina, long-time 13 Colonies coordinator for his home state's K2J station, Villone will remain involved as the New York state coordinator for K2A.

Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, who joined Villone more than a dozen years ago in his passion to promote American history via an amateur radio special event, is helping to ensure a smooth transition.

Josuweit is coordinator for WM3PEN, a bonus station that recognizes Philadelphia’s role as the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence.

Josuweit said that in its first year, the event recorded some 12,000 QSOs. That grew to a breathtaking 292,426 contacts in 2024. It also attracted operators who now run bonus stations in Great Britain GB13COL and France TM13COL, recognizing the role the two countries played in America's war for independence.

This year’s 13 Colonies certificate will recognize the work Villone has done to make the event so popular. Villone, however, shared a different perspective on why the event is such a success. In an email sent recently to all hams involved, he wrote: [quote] “I just only started this event and I tried to keep it going. But it was you folks who also through your participation and dedication managing your states and special bonus stations (Philadelphia, England and France) that made this whole thing work!” [endquote]

To find out more about the 13 Colonies Special Event, go to the text version of this story at arnewsline-dot-o-r-g and click on the link there.

This is Mark Abramowicz NT3V

[DO NOT READ: http://www.13colonies.us/ ]

(13 COLONIES SPECIAL EVENT)

**
JUNE IS AMATEUR RADIO MONTH IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

PAUL/ANCHOR: It has been a productive year so far for amateur radio operators in New Hampshire. A memorandum of understanding between the state and New Hampshire-ARES has designated emergency operators as the sole providers of ham radio communication support to the state's Department of Safety, Division of Emergency Services and Communication. Ham radio's important role to the community has since been underscored by a recent proclamation from the governor's office declaring June as Amateur Radio Month in New Hampshire. New Hampshire joins Hawaii in this formal gesture of appreciation for the hams in their state.

(QRZ.COM)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, Emil, DL8JJ will be using the callsign EA5/DL8JJ from Penyeta del Moro, IOTA number EU-151, between the 7th and 9th of June. Listen for him on 40 through 10 metres where he will be using CW and SSB. QSL via MØOXO's OQRS.

Listen for Bo, OZ1DJJ using the callsign OX3LX from Greenland, IOTA number NA-018, where he will operate holiday style from two locations. He will be at gridsquare GP47pa from the 5th through to the 9th of June and at gridsquare GP44de from the 10th through to the 22nd. See QRZ.com for other details.

Special callsign PA2025NATO is on the air throughout June to mark the NATO Summit being hosted by the Netherlands for the first time on the weekend of June 24th. QSL details and other information is on QRZ.com

Domenico, IK1MNF, is using the callsign IK1MNF/IA5 from Isola d'Elba, IOTA Number EU-028 from early June until the end of September. Listen for Domenico on 20-6 metres where he will be using SSB most of the time. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
KICKER: KOSOVO DXPEDITION DID NOT GO UN-"HERD"

PAUL/ANCHOR: A recent joint DXPedition to Kosovo was much anticipated - after a series of postponements and delays. What was NOT anticipated, however, were some of the contacts the two operators had toward the activation's end. Jim Meachen ZL2BHF wraps up this week's newscast by giving us those details.

JIM: Anne OH2YL and Marko OH2LG were finally ready for that long-awaited 10 days of intense operating deep in the Balkans as Z68YL and Z68OM, respectively. The contacts came in exhilarating waves as the pair operated from May 20th through to the 30th. Then, just days before the big finish, the two operators were confronted with a pileup like no other:

Cows. A herd of at least 50 of them, rampaging through the antennas and messing with the guy wires. A blog post written by Jari OH6BG, said that [quote] "The guy wires were given the ride of their life," [endquote] As for the feedlines, well, the cows' teeth took the word "feedline" quite literally. The feedlines for the end-fed half-wave wire antenna and the 6-metre dipole were both chewed through.

With some repair work and a new vertical antenna, the operators were soon back in business. By the time they went QRT, despite high winds, QRM and bovine intervention, they managed to work their way to a total of just fewer than 10,000 QSOs.

Resilient, determined and resourceful, they would not be cowed.....in Kow-sovo.

THURSDAY EDITON: Well the little balloon keeps chugging, it can't decide whether to go to Mongolia or China....The repeater keeps kicking out with the amplifier in line, I am thinking thermal sensor which trips 3 fans in the Henry 100 watt amplifier. I went up with a heat gun and heated the shit out of it, no fans. I jumped the thermal switch, fans go on. I soldered a jumper in and will put he amplifier back inline, I hope the final transistors didn't suffer any damage but time will tell today. Always something....

I spend more time at the repeater site than I actually  use the damn repeater...

Club fills demand for ham radio training on Whidbey Island

When disaster strikes, knowing how to communicate across the airwaves is an invaluable skill.

When disaster strikes, knowing how to communicate across the airwaves is an invaluable skill that could end up being a big help in a crisis.

It’s also a hobby that provides plenty of opportunities for socializing and exchanging information.

But before getting into the ham radio scene, a technician license must be obtained.

In response to overwhelming interest generated by the recent emergency preparedness conference hosted by South Whidbey Fire/EMS, instructors from the Island County Amateur Radio Club are leading a three-day class in the Bayview fire station’s classroom. The classes run 6 to 9 p.m. June 6 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 7 and 8. Participants will learn how to pass the exam — which will be administered Sunday afternoon — for the technician license.

“We’ve had people walk in having no interest whatsoever, pick it up and pass the test,” said Bob Keeton, one of the instructors.

He recalled one time when another instructor’s wife spent about an hour thumbing through the manual for the class while waiting in the parking lot. She walked into the classroom and passed the test that day.

“Not everybody can do that, but it’s also not a college final here,” Keeton said.

He encourages people to get the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual 5th Edition before attending the class so they can get some extra study time in. The book will also be available during the upcoming class.

To sign up, reach out to southwhidbeyprepares@whidbey.com to obtain the Google Form for registration or visit w7avm.org/training to fill out a form and specify the June class. The testing fee is $15.

Keeton, a retired police officer who lives in Oak Harbor, is the volunteer civilian coordinator for Island County Department of Emergency Management and amateur radio operators in case of a catastrophic situation such as the Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. He has been helping members of the newly formed South Whidbey Prepares group to get their technician licenses so they can become part of the ham radio network.

Keeton has been doing amateur radio for the past 25 years, but said he is very new at it compared with a lot of other people in the county. Depending on budget, a person can spend anywhere from $25 to $2,500 on a ham radio. Some can be ordered from Amazon, while others come from specialty shops.

“New hams” are encouraged to come to a field day event June 28-29 at the Greenbank Progressive Club, where they will gather with others to simulate emergency radio operations. It’s also a contest to contact other groups doing the same thing in their communities across the U.S., Keeton said.

In case of “the Big One,” amateur radio operators can take care of themselves and neighbors by reporting damage and finding out what’s happening in other areas.

“Island County and specifically Whidbey could be a real mess,” Keeton said. “The bridge could be gone, probably will be gone.”

It also provides an outlet for people to express their needs and wants and to discuss their problems. But more than just being helpful in an emergency scenario, ham radio is a fascinating pastime.

 

WEDNESDAY EDITION: The balloon is still up and headed slowly towards Mongolia, quite a flight so far......

Northern Lights are a headache, and maybe even a danger, for amateur radio operators

Plenty of camera buffs and astronomy fans are excited about the possibility of seeing Northern Lights tonight,  June 2, but amateur radio operator are even more excited than that.

Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, occur after the sun produces an unusual amount of charged particles (known as a coronal mass ejection or CME)  in a geomagnetic storm. These particles hit the ionosphere, the charged layer of Earth’s atmosphere, and create interesting visual effects.

However, the CME also changes the ionosphere in unpredictable ways. Amateur radio, often called ham radio, bounces signals off the ionosphere, which allows operators to contact each other from thousands of miles away. During a strong geomagnetic storm – the current one is rated 4 on 1-to-5 scale by the National Space Weather Prediction Center – amateur radio is often disrupted, with operators unable to reach channels that are normally available. 

At the very worst, a strong geomagnetic storm can distort Earth’s magnetic field to the point that large conducting wires or antennas can have electric currents induced in them, putting equipment at risk. While this is extremely rare, the Contoocook Valley Radio Club has issued a caution that high-frequency-antenna owners may want to disconnect their rigs until the CME event has passed because of the possibility of damage.

Northern Lights are expected to be visible in much of New Hampshire on Monday night. They are best viewed well after midnight from a high point with an unobstructed view to the north.

Ham Radio Ireland Magazine

The following is from Steve (EI5DD), the editor of Ham Radio Ireland Magazine.

Ham Radio Ireland Magazine, a free E-Magazine is published every second month. It is Ireland's only independent freelance Amateur Radio Magazine geared towards all radio and electronics experimenters. Each month we strive to include all facets of the hobby and include CB, PMR 446, and POC radio information in addition to our regular Ham Radio articles.

Ham Radio Ireland has gone from strength to strength and we are reaching out to clubs and groups globally. Our Authors are not just form Ireland as we receive articles from many parts of the world.

Ham Radio Ireland Magazine isn't just about technical content. Our team of writers and editors are also passionate about the social and cultural aspects of the hobby, and we regularly promote activities of Radio Clubs all around Ireland and overseas.

Our magazine is distributed to social media sites and available for all to download. Our Magazine is free of charge. We are unbiased and inclusive. We are not affiliated to any club or society so there is no mutual backslapping we just get on with and enjoy the hobby!

Check out our Facebook Page Ham Radio Ireland.

Recently we have included links to a "Flip-Book" version of the magazine although we still retain our PDF repository on DocDroid.

Links to current and back issues in PDF format and, more recently in Flip-book format, may be found at https://galwayvhfgroup.blogspot.com/2022/06/connacht-regional-radio-newsletter.html

The editor is Steve Wright

New Bismuth Transistor Runs 40% Faster and Uses 10% Less Power

Recently in material science news from China we hear that [Hailin Peng] and his team at Peking University just made the world’s fastest transistor and it’s not made of silicon. Before we tell you about this transistor made from bismuth here’s a whirlwind tour of the history of the transistor.

The Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT, such as NPN and PNP) was invented by Bell Labs in 1947. Later came Transistor-Transistor Logic (TTL) made with BJTs. The problem with TTL was too much power consumption.

Enter the energy-efficient Field-Effect Transistor (FET). The FET is better suited to processing information as it is voltage-controlled, unlike the BJT which is current-controlled. Advantages of FETs include high input impedance, low power consumption, fast switching speed, being well suited to Very-Large-Scale Integration (VLSI), etc.

The cornerstone of Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) technology which came to replace TTL was a type of FET known as the Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (MOSFET). The type of MOSFET most commonly used in CMOS integrated circuits is the Enhancement-mode MOSFET which is normally off and needs gate voltage to conduct.

A transistor’s technology generation is given with the “process node”, in nanometers (nm). This used to mean the size of the smallest feature that could be fabricated, but these days it’s just a marketing term (smaller is “better”). Planar CMOS MOSFETs were initially dominant (through ~28nm), then came SOI MOSFETs (28nm to 16nm), then FinFETs (16nm to 5nm), and now finally Gate-All-Around FETs (GAAFETs, 3nm and beyond).

All of that in order to say that this new transistor from [Hailin Peng] and his team is a GAAFET. It’s made from bismuth oxyselenide (Bi₂O₂Se) for the channel, and bismuth selenite oxide (Bi₂SeO₅) as the gate material. See the article for further details.

Keep in mind that at this point in time we only have a prototype from a lab and the gory details about how to mass-produce these things, assuming that’s even possible, haven’t yet been worked out. We have previously discussed the difficulty of manufacturing state-of-the-art transistors. If you’re interested in bismuth be sure to check out how to use bismuth for desoldering.

Blog – Hackaday Read More

 

TUESDAY EDITION: The balloon has escaped from Turkey and is on the road again towards Mongolia. A lot of fun for just a $100 investment....A colossal cloud of Sahara dust is smothering the Caribbean en route to the US, if band conditions weren't bad enough

Testing a Cheap Bench Power Supply Sold on Amazon

We’ve all seen those cheap bench power supply units (PSUs) for sale online, promising specifications that would cost at least a hundred dollars or more if it were a name brand model. Just how much of a compromise are these (usually rebranded) PSUs, and should you trust them with your electronics? Recently [Denki Otaku] purchased a cheap unit off Amazon Japan for a closer look, and found it to be rather lacking.

Major compromises include the lack of an output power switch, no way to check the set current limit without shorting the output, very slow drop in output voltage while adjusting due to the lack of a discharge circuit, and other usability concerns. That’s when the electrical performance of the PSU got tested.

Right off the bat a major issue in this cheap switching mode PSU is clear, as it has 200 mV peak-to-peak noise on its output, meaning very little output filtering. The maximum power output rating was also far too optimistic, with a large voltage drop observed. Despite this, it generally worked well, and the internals – with a big aluminium plate as heatsink – look pretty clean with an interesting architecture.

The general advice is to get a bench PSU that has features like an output power button and an easy way to set the voltage and current limits. Also do not connect it to anything that cares about noise and ripple unless you know that it produces clean, filtered output voltages.

Blog – Hackaday Read More

 

MONDAY EDITION: Looks like our balloon is stuck in Turkey, it must be enjoying the smoke from the hash pipes....

Semiconductor Simulator Lets Your Play IC Designer

For circuit simulation, we have always been enthralled with the Falstad simulator which is a simple, Spice-like simulator that runs in the browser. [Brandon] has a simulator, too, but it simulates semiconductor devices. With help from [Paul Falstad], that simulator also runs in the browser.

This simulator takes a little thinking and lets you build devices as you might on an IC die. The key is to use the dropdown that initially says “Interact” to select a tool. Then, the drop-down below lets you select what you are drawing, which can be a voltage source, metal, or various materials you find in semiconductor devices, like n-type or a dielectric.

It is a bit tricky, but if you check out the examples first (like this diode), it gets easier. The main page has many examples. You can even build up entire subsystems like a ring oscillator or a DRAM cell.

Designing at this level has its own quirks. For example, in the real world, you think of resistors as something you can use with great precision, and capacitors are often “sloppy.” On an IC substrate, resistors are often the sloppy component. While capacitor values might not be exact, it is very easy to get an extremely precise ratio of two capacitors because the plate size is tightly controlled. This leads to a different mindset than you are used to when designing with discrete components.

Of course, this is just a simulation, so everything can be perfect. If, for some reason, you don’t know about the Falstad simulator, check it out now.

 

For sale: Yaesu FT-950 like new...very few hours on it, a backup to the backup radio. Mike, bound manual, power cord- $500 firm- will not ship, pickup in Rockport, MA or at HRO Salem, NH by arrangement

 

WEEKEND EDITION: Position of balloon on Saturday morning, it must like Turkey, it can't get out of there....

Hamvention 2025 Sets Attendance Record

Hamvention has released attendance numbers for 2025, and once again, the premier ham radio event has set an attendance record. For 2025, the official attendance was counted at 36,814. Compared with 2024’s attendance numbers of 35,877, that’s an increase of 937 attendees over last year. This marks two years in a row of record setting attendance at Hamvention.

Source: Dayton Hamvention

Amateur Radio Daily – Read More

A Gentle Introduction to Impedance

Impedance matching is one of the perpetual confusions for new electronics students, and for good reason: the idea that increasing the impedance of a circuit can lead to more power transmission is frighteningly unintuitive at first glance. Even once you understand this, designing a circuit with impedance matching is a tricky task, and it’s here that [Ralph Gable]’s introduction to impedance matching is helpful.

The goal of impedance matching is to maximize the amount of power transmitted from a source to a load. In some simple situations, resistance is the only significant component in impedance, and it’s possible to match impedance just by matching resistance. In most situations, though, capacitance and inductance will add a reactive component to the impedance, in which case it becomes necessary to use the complex conjugate for impedance matching.

The video goes over this theory briefly, but it’s real focus is on explaining how to read a Smith chart, an intimidating-looking tool which can be used to calculate impedances. The video covers the basic impedance-only Smith chart, as well as a full-color Smith chart which indicates both impedance and admittance.

This video is the introduction to a planned series on impedance matching, and beyond reading Smith charts, it doesn’t really get into many specifics. However, based on the clear explanations so far, it could be worth waiting for the rest of the series.

If you’re interested in more practical details, we’ve also covered another example before.

Blog – Hackaday Read More

FRIDAY EDITION: The balloon left Greece and is touring Turkey if I have my geography right......

Amateur Radio Newsline Report

FCC EYES GIVING SATELLITES 20,000 MHz MORE OF SPECTRUM

NEIL/ANCHOR: We begin this week with changes the FCC has voted to make to the spectrum - specifically to accommodate satellite operations. Kent Peterson KCØDGY has the details.

KENT: The US communications regulator is hoping to move ahead with the assignment of more than 20,000 MHz of spectrum bandwidth to accommodate expanded satellite-based broadband service. The FCC voted unanimously at its May 22nd open meeting to explore such use across four spectrum bands: the upper portion of the 12 GHz band, starting at 12.7 GHz; the 42 GHz band, the 52 GHz band and four unused sections of the 75-110 GHz W-band totaling 18,000 MHz.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said in a statement after the vote that [quote] "each band is a potential game changer." [endquote]. The agency said that the amount of spectrum under consideration is greater than all the spectrum presently available for satellite broadband. He said the additional frequencies were ripe territory for so-called next-generation services.

It was unclear what impact, if any, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking would have on the amateur radio service. The move was applauded by the Satellite Industry Association in a statement on its website.

This is Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

(FCC, TV TECH)

**
SOLO DXPEDITIONER HONORED FOR 61,000 QSOs

NEIL/ANCHOR: A French amateur has been recognized for logging 61,000 contacts while on DXpedition - by himself! Jeremy Boot G4NJH has that story.

JEREMY: Congratulations to Marek Lamachou, FH4VVK/F4VVJ, who logged more than 61,000 QSOs as the solo operator during a DXpedition on the island of Grande Glorieuse operating as FT4GL. The island is the largest in the French-controlled Glorioso Islands archipelago in the Indian Ocean and is 7th in the DXCC Most Wanted List.

Marek was honoured at Hamvention by the Southwest Ohio DX Association as DXpeditioner of the Year. The association said that he had [quote] "gone above and beyond the norm to positively affect the DX community." [endquote] The DXpedition took place in May and June of 2024.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
RECORD ATTENDANCE AT HAMVENTION

NEIL/ANCHOR: If you were among those at Hamvention, like me, in Xenia, Ohio, in May, congratulations! You helped set a record. Organizers report that a record 36,814 amateur radio enthusiasts came to the fairgrounds for the annual forums, exhibits and of course, the flea market. The event was put together with the help of more than 700 volunteers. Plans are now in the works for Hamvention 2026 to be held on May 15th, 16th and 17th.

(JAMES GIFFORD. N8KET)

**

YASME GRANT WILL FIND RBN NODE ON SOUTH ATLANTIC ISLAND

NEIL/ANCHOR: A grant will fund the establishment of a new node for the Reverse Beacon Network in the South Atlantic Ocean. Jason Daniels VK2LAW tells us about it.

JASON: The world's most isolated settled island is adding an important amateur radio presence: A Reverse Beacon Network node. The node project is being given a supporting grant from the Yasme Foundation and will be hosted by Andy Repetto, ZD9BV, on Tristan da Cunha, a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. The Reverse Beacon Network comprises stations in different parts of the world that monitor the bands and send reports of what - and who - they hear. It is an all-volunteer effort.

This is Jason Daniels VK2LAW.

(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
SILENT KEY: DICK JANSSON, KD1K, LONGTIME AMSAT VP FOR ENGINEERING

NEIL/ANCHOR: For years, AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, benefitted from the engineering talents of Dick Jansson, KD1K, whose professional career had included time spent at Sperry Corporation, Martin Marietta, the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory and NACA, the forerunner of the US space agency NASA. In retirement, however, Dick focused his lifetime of skills on a variety of AMSAT spacecraft projects, including OSCARS 10 and 13 and the MICROSAT series. He eventually became AMSAT's vice president of engineering.

Dick became a Silent Key on May 13th.

Dick's longtime work with a variety of AMSAT spacecraft inspired his selection as recipient of the Technical Excellence Award at Dayton Hamvention in 1993. He had been a ham since 1972.

A memorial service is planned for Dick in Florida on June 4th. He was 94.

(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)

**
SOUTH AFRICA LICENSES 48 NEW RADIO AMATEURS

NEIL/ANCHOR: In South Africa, 48 new ham radio operators are celebrating passage of the Radio Amateur Examination that they took in May administered by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa.

The RAE, as it is known, has only given exams twice a year. According to various news reports, while 48 candidates passed the exam, 5 others did not.

The next exam is not scheduled until November.

(WIRELESS INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA, SARL)

**
OHIO TRAFFIC NET MARKS 50 YEARS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

NEIL/ANCHOR: In one region of Ohio, a 50-year-old traffic net is celebrating its years of uninterrupted service to the community. We have those details from Stephen Kinford N8WB.

STEPHEN: No one can physically see this devoted community but its presence has been felt strongly throughout the Cleveland and North Central Ohio region for a half-century. The Burning River Traffic Net is still passing important traffic as it has done since its founding in 1975 as a 2m simplex net to deliver messages to recipients who lived outside the local telephone exchange, constituting a long-distance call at the time. Those messages include health and welfare updates, congratulations, emergencies and simple greetings. The net has since become repeater-based and meets every Monday, Thursday and Saturday at 9:30 p.m. local time. Members are called up on an as-needed basis on other days.

The Burning River Traffic Net is about to become visible and meet the community it has served for so long. The net, which is part of the ARRL’s National Traffic System, is inviting all hams and anyone interested in learning more about the net to be part of their anniversary celebration. It’s being held on the 21st of June at the Lorain County Metroparks Duck Pond Picnic Area pavilion at 1 p.m. local time. Net manager Keith Cook, KD8GXL, said [quote] “this is more than just a celebration of the past - it’s an opportunity to look forward to the next 50 years.” [Endquote]

This is Stephen Kinford N8WB.

(KEITH COOK, KD8GXL)

**
HAP HOLLY, KC9RP/SK, RECEIVES FINAL NEWSMAKER AWARD, POSTHUMOUSLY

NEIL/ANCHOR: With this week's report, Amateur Radio Newsline presents its final Newsmaker of the Year Award - and introduces a new award to reflect changing times. Newsline's editor Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT has the details.

CARYN: In 2019, Newsline introduced its Newsmaker of the Year Award in recognition of deserving amateurs who raised the profile of ham radio around the world via conventional media channels. The media universe has changed since then. We now communicate reliably via blogs, videos and other forms of social media with conventional media taking a backseat. Toward that end, we are replacing the Newsmaker award with Newsline's Influencer Award, shining a light on those who have had a measurable, far-reaching and positive impact on amateur radio. That award will be presented at year's end.

Meanwhile, it is fitting that we give our final Newsmaker of the Year Award to Hap Holly, KC9RP. Hap, a member of the Newsline family, left an imprint on the world via his Radio Amateur Information Network, or RAIN report, weekly reports he produced for three decades. Hap, who became blind at the age of 7, was an active and influential amateur for most of his 73 years. He became a Silent Key on February 24th of this year. As we remember him with pride and gratitude, we honor him for being the remarkable newsmaker that he was.

This is Caryn Eve Murray KD2GUT.

**
'QUEENS OF THE MOUNTAINS' EVENT RETURNS

NEIL/ANCHOR: Be on the lookout for some YLs about to ascend the summits for a special SOTA event. One year after organizing their inaugural Queens of the Mountains activation, the YLs are back and they've gone global. Andy Morrison K9AWM has that story.

ANDY: True to its name, the Queens of the Mountains event is a challenge worthy of royalty. Paula K9IR and Amy AG7GP have brought the event back for its second year as YLs activate SOTA summits on June 7th and June 8th - and not only YLs around the world chase the activators; men are also invited to join in this year's chase. Anyone contacting 5 or more YLs on a SOTA summit becomes eligible for a certificate.

The biggest honors will go to the YL activators themselves who will be logging contacts and working toward any or all of six achievement awards, including one for a first-time SOTA activator. A special K1LIZ Memorial Achievement Award will be given to the YL with the highest number of achievement awards. Last year the event crowned Lorene W6LOR with the honor, which bears the callsign of top-achieving activator Liz Burns K1LIZ who became a Silent Key in February of 2022.

This is Andy Morrison K9AWM.

(SOTA REFLECTOR)

**
PROJECT EYES HAM RADIO ON GEOSYNCHRONOUS SATELLITE

NEIL/ANCHOR: The project is called "futureGEO," and it envisions ham radio on a geosynchronous satellite, as we hear from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: AMSAT-DL has sent a Request for Expression of Interest to various other AMSAT organisations and amateur radio associations for a proposed ham radio-focused project known as "futureGEO," operating from a geosynchronous satellite.

The group is hoping to receive proposals no later than the 30th of June. AMSAT-DL's request comes two years after the European Space Agency described its vision of having amateur radio on a geosynchronous satellite, designed to cover the north of North America and Europe, and which drew on proposals from AMSAT-DL and AMSAT-UK.

Meanwhile, a new satellite-based FM repeater comes online in June. On board the HADES-ICM satellite it will initially be active on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays .

It has an uplink of 145.875 MHz and a downlink of 436.666 MHz. Another repeater, HADES-R, already operates full time with a 145.925 MHz uplink and a 436.888 MHz downlink.

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(AMSAT, AMATEUR NEWS DAILY)

**

JUNE IS 'AMATEUR RADIO MONTH' IN HAWAII

NEIL/ANCHOR: Every year, hams in the US and Canada observe the fourth full weekend in June as Field Day, considered the most important amateur radio weekend of the year. In Hawaii, however, amateur radio recognition will be going on a little longer: the state's governor, Josh Green, has proclaimed all of June to be Amateur Radio Month, in recognition of the 3400 hams operating in the Pacific region.The state has ties to wireless that go back more than 100 years, however. In 1914, its island of Oahu became home to a Marconi wireless telegraphy station. In 1916, the first transmissions were successfully sent to Japan from the US territory, marking the start of wireless communication between the two nations.

(HISTORY.COM, AMATEUR RADIO DAILY)

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, the F4KIS radio club is on the air through to the 10th of June using the callsign TM41GM. The suffix stands for "greve des mineurs,” recalling the 1941 strike of 100,000 miners of Nord-Pas-de-Calais. This action was among the earliest acts of collective resistance to Nazi occupation in France. See QRZ.com for details about eQSL downloads.

Listen for the callsign HS3ØDXA which is on the air to mark the 30th anniversary of the Thailand DX Association, E28AC and E2X. Radio operators are calling CQ on all HF bands and on the 2-metre band through to the 21st of June. They will also be using various amateur radio satellites. QSL via HS6MYW.

Otis, NP4G, is on the air until the 2nd of June from St. Barthelemy, IOTA Number NA-146, using the callsign FJ/NP4G. QSL via LoTW only.

Operators are using the callsign HI99RCD to celebrate the 99th anniversary of the Radio Club Dominicano, HI8RCD, which was founded on June 12th, 1926. QSOs will be confirmed by email and via the logbook on QRZ.com

(425 DX BULLETIN)

**
KICKER: PRIME TIME TV IS BACK ON BOARD THE ISS

NEIL/ANCHOR: Fans of Amateur Radio on the International Space Station will be happy to know that a popular TV show is returning - and coming soon to a shack near you. Ralph Squillace KK6ITB concludes this week's newscast with a report about this welcome comeback.

RALPH: Never mind what prime-time TV has to offer - hams who have been missing a chance to make contacts through HamTV will have something to celebrate soon. HamTV was the Digital Amateur Television transmitter operating on the Columbus module of the ISS until failure took it out of service in 2019.

Its repairs here on earth were completed and the newly invigorated HamTV was returned to the ISS via SpaceX CRS-30 in March of 2024. ARISS reports that astronauts will complete its reinstallation in late June in preparation for more contacts with schools around the world. HamTV uses the DVB-S protocol in the 13 cm band to transmit digital video and audio in MPG2 format.

THURSDAY EDITION: The little balloon is visiting Greece this morning. ....

2 meter antenna most hams could make.....I think!

WEDNESDAY EDITION: The balloon did a lot of traveling last night and so far today, it's over England!. Total cost of balloon, transmitter, and solar cells under $50.00....

13 Colonies Special Event July 1 – 7

In just a few weeks, one of the most popular summer operating events kicks off – The 13 Colonies Special Event. Now in its 17 year the event has grown from Special Event Stations making approximately 12,000 contacts in 2009 to last year making 292,496 contacts around the world. The Event runs from July 1 9:00 AM – July 7 Midnight Eastern (July 1 – 1300 UTC – July 8 – 0400 UTC).

This year Event organizers are recognizing the 13 Colonies Special Event founder Ken Villone, KU2US, who is passing the torch on to Tony Jones, N4ATJ. For the past 16 years Villone has lead the Event by working with state and bonus station coordinators. Then after the event he would print out individual certificates for thousands of people who made contact with the special event stations.

The Special Event consist of one station operating in each of the 13 Colonies (K2A – K2M) and three bonus stations (WM3PEN – Philadelphia, GB13COL – England, TM13COL – France) each representing their city, state, or countries role in America’s Colonial period.

Villone describes how the event got started:

“I had just finished participating in the ARRL Sweepstakes in 2008, and remarked how fun it was. I could not figure out why there were not more of these type special events on the air? So I decided to try my luck and create one for one year only to see what happens and to have some fun. I knew we had to offer a special QSL card and/or certificate plus have on hand a printer and supplies. The hard part was deciding what the event would commemorate and when to do this. I needed a theme that ALL could relate to! Also the event would have to be the type with multiple event stations involved, like the ARRL Sweeps.

Then it hit me! 13 Colonies states, during the 4th of July week and offer a certificate with the theme for the year. I made sure the theme was different each year with a different certificate design, to make it interesting and to also make the cert collectable. The theme would highlight some event or thing connected to the American Revolution. The event was held July 1st to the 4th, 2009, 4 days with no advertising except on QRZ. I had a hard time getting 13 different Ops, one from each Colony state but it worked out. All in all it was a success! We did over 12,000 contacts the first year. I decided we have a good thing going so I recruited another Op from each state and ran the event the next year in 2010. We did over 32,000 contacts in 2010, and had 26 state operators total. There was a 13 Colonies special event in 1962 but only lasted one year, according to my research. (I was 13 years old).”

Ham Radio operators and SWLs can participate in the event. Complete information about the call for each colony station and the bonus stations can be found on the event website 13colonies.us and they can follow us on Facebook – 13 Colonies Special Event Community. Stations need only make one contact with one of the participating stations or they can go for a Clean Sweep and work all 13 Colony stations and the 3 bonus stations. Each station offers a special QSL card for the event as well as a different certificate each year. Operators can keep an eye out for the special event stations by watching many of the dx spotting networks such as DXSummit.fi.

Mylar Space Blankets As RF Reflectors

Metalized Mylar “space blankets” are sold as a survivalist’s accessory, primarily due to their propensity for reflecting heat. They’re pretty cheap, and [HamJazz] has performed some experiments on their RF properties. Do they reflect radio waves as well as they reflect heat? As it turns out, yes they do.

Any antenna system that’s more than a simple radiator relies on using conductive components as reflectors. These can either be antenna elements, or the surrounding ground acting as an approximation to a conductor. Radio amateurs will often use wires laid on the ground or buried within it to improve its RF conductivity, and it’s in this function that he’s using the Mylar sheet. Connection to the metalized layer is made with a magnet and some aluminium tape, and the sheet is strung up from a line at an angle. It’s a solution for higher frequencies only due to the restricted size of the thing, but it’s certainly interesting enough to merit further experimentation.

As you can see in the video below, his results are derived in a rough and ready manner with a field strength meter. But they certainly show a much stronger field on one side resulting from the Mylar, and also in an antenna that tunes well. We would be interested to conduct a received signal strength test over a much greater distance rather than a high-level field strength test so close to the antenna, but it’s interesting to have a use for a space blanket that’s more than just keeping the sun away from your tent at a hacker camp. Perhaps it could even form a parabolic antenna.

Blog – Hackaday Read More

TUESDAY EDITION: Above is a screen shot of the launched balloon, the straight line is the night flight- no sun so the transmitter is silent...

Club member email:

PRC319 Loaner Program

You have probably seen my PRC319 in action…

https://www.eham.net/article/48934

PRC319 Loaner Program:

This PRC319 is a Free 'Loaner' available to any ham in the USA.

It is Not For Sale.

   If you have been wanting to try one out, or use it for a club presentation, here is your chance.
   If you are not familiar with the 319, you can watch the video at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCXb2M66fro

or read g0ozs's web site at: https://g0ozs.co.uk/mdwiki/clansman/#prc319.md

The 319 is a fixed frequency, channelized HF radio, so there is no tuning around. It runs CW, SSB or Data at 5W or 50W.
If you want to borrow it, I will send you the PRC319 Loan Agreement.

When it becomes available, I will notify you and you will then send me $100for initial shipping. You must pay for the shipping both ways (about $200 in total).

I will refund any excess shipping fees.
You can borrow it for up to 90 days.

Alternate Plan: You can reserve it for your 2-week vacation to Colorado and pick it up in COS and deliver it or ship it back.

Pick it up, use it for POTA/SOTA's and return it all free

Sorry, no shipments can be made outside of the CONUS.  (Not available to FL, AK, HI, or PR).
The radio comes with an Electronic Message Unit (EMU), Antenna Tuner, Handset, Satchel, Battery, Charger and an 8-foot whip.

You must use your own key/keyer.  

 It can only ship UPS because of the battery restrictions.

You must have a General or higher-class FCC license and be listed in the FCC database.
I don’t think you will be able to work DXCC/pm this year, the conditions have been poor.

This 319 was donated to the '319 Loaner Program' by Clare Owens Jr, N2RJB, Apex, NC. and accessories by Al G8LIT.

Reply direct to   

W0RW777@gmail.com

Paul Signorelli   W0RW

Colorado Springs, CO 80905

 

MEMORIAL DAY EDITION: The sun is out and the local parade is on, it ends in the cemetery with a speech and a rifle salute to the lost hero's....

HamTV Installation on ISS Scheduled for June

ARISS reports that HamTV is scheduled to be installed on the International Space Station in late June.

Originally installed in 2013, HamTV has been inactive since the equipment failed in 2019. HamTV has previously been used to facilitate school contacts with ISS astronauts.

Source: ARISS

Amateur Radio Daily – Read More

Inside Starlink’s User Terminal

If you talk about Starlink, you are usually talking about the satellites that orbit the Earth carrying data to and from ground stations. Why not? Space is cool. But there’s another important part of the system: the terminals themselves. Thanks to [DarkNavy], you don’t have to tear one open yourself to see what’s inside.

The terminal consists of two parts: the router and the antenna. In this context, antenna is somewhat of a misnomer, since it is really the RF transceiver and antenna all together. The post looks only at the “antenna” part of the terminal.

The unit is 100% full of printed circuit board with many RF chips and a custom ST Microelectronics Cortex A-53 quad-core CPU. There was a hack to gain root shell on the device. This led to SpaceX disabling the UART via a firmware update. However, there is still a way to break in.

[DarkNavy] wanted to look at the code, too, but there was no easy way to dump the flash memory. Desoldering the eMMC chip and reading it was, however, productive. The next step was to create a virtual environment to run the software under Qemu.

There were a few security questions raised. We wouldn’t call them red flags, per see, but maybe pink flags. For example, there are 41 trusted ssh keys placed in the device’s authorized_keys file. That seems like a lot for a production device on your network, but it isn’t any smoking gun.

We’ve watched the cat-and-mouse between Starlink and people hacking the receivers with interest.

Blog – Hackaday Read More

New Book Release: Using the Baofeng® Radio.....is this a joke?

Five Oddest Op Amp Applications

You think of op amps as amplifiers because, no kidding, it is right in the name. But just like some people say, “you could do that with a 555,” [Doctor Volt] might say, “you can do that with an op amp.” In a recent video, you can see below, he looks at simulations and breadboards for five applications that aren’t traditional amplifiers.

Of course, you can split hairs. A comparator is sort of an amplifier with some very specific parameters, but it isn’t an amplifier in the classic sense.

In addition to comparators, there’s a flip flop, a few oscillators, and a PWM audio over optical transmitter and receiver. If you want to test your understanding of op amps, you can try to analyze the different circuits to see if you can explain how they work.

Op amps are amazing for analog design since you don’t have to build up high-quality amplifier blocks from discrete devices. Even the worst op amp you can buy is probably better than something you have the patience to design in a few minutes with a FET or a bipolar device. Fair to say that we do enjoy these oddball op amp circuits.

Blog – Hackaday Read More

Highlights from 2025 Dayton Hamvention

Amateur Radio Newsline Report

REPORT: US UNPREPARED TO HANDLE MAJOR SOLAR STORM

JIM/ANCHOR: We begin this week with word that a US task force, by its own admission, is ill prepared to cope with the wide-ranging impact of a solar storm. This news comes on the anniversary of the Gannon Storm - the most powerful geomagnetic storm to hit the earth in two decades. Here's Randy Sly W4XJ.

RANDY: A US government task force established 11 years ago to handle space weather emergencies has demonstrated that it is incapable of successfully managing such a crisis, according to a recent report task force members released earlier this month. Several critical failures came to light at the conclusion of a two-day drill conducted in early May to assess US agencies' readiness in such a crisis. The drill staged a simulated crisis of several CMEs hurtling toward earth, creating widespread power and communications outages, radio blackouts and radiation hazards for NASA astronauts on a lunar mission.

This was the first exercise of its kind for the task force, which is known by the acronym SWORM, which stands for Space Weather Operations Research and Mitigation. Member agencies include the US Department of Homeland Security and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. According to the report, government agency protocols were shown to be weak and without effective interoffice coordination. Those challenges were called especially critical because warning for the impact of an incoming coronal mass ejection can be as long as a few days or as short as half an hour.

The report praised the exercise for identifying these issues and called for, among other things, development of an advanced warning system and sophisticated space-weather satellite systems. A link to the report is in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

This is Randy Sly W4XJ.

[DO NOT READ: https://www.jhuapl.edu/sites/default/files/2025-04/Space-Weather-TTX-Report-Summary-v3-FINAL.pdf ]

(SPACE WEATHER OPERATIONS RESEARCH & MITIGATION; POPULAR SCIENCE, LIVE SCIENCE)

**
ON-LOAN DMR KIT STARTS YOUNG UK HAMS ON THEIR JOURNEYS

JIM/ANCHOR: When you’re first starting out in amateur radio, you can’t borrow confidence in getting on the air but now in the UK you can borrow something that’s almost just as helpful. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us about a new program created especially to help hams under the age of 18 who are just starting their radio journeys.

JEREMY: The DMR project launched recently by the Radio Society of Great Britain is a way to provide opportunity - and radio equipment - for young new amateurs to become accustomed to making QSOs on a regular basis. The Outreach Team’s new DMR kit contains DMR handheld transceivers and hotspots to borrow for as long as three months at no cost. Accompanying the equipment, of course, is the opportunity to use it - and the RSGB’s team will also be hosting regularly scheduled youth nets to give as many participants as possible a good start. Licensed hams or school groups with at least one licensee are eligible to apply to use the kits.

Meanwhile, the society is also encouraging teachers to establish school clubs and to become amateurs themselves. Funding from the Radio Communications Foundation will cover the cost of up to nine teachers’ exams.

Additional details are available at rsgb dot org dot UK (rsgb.org.uk)

This is Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

(RSGB)

**
ANTENNA AUCTION RAISES FUNDS FOR SCHOLARSHIP

JIM/ANCHOR: Pieces of an antenna once atop New York City's Empire State Building have found new homes - and the auction held for them has done a lot of good, as we hear from Jen DeSalvo, W9TXJ.

JEN: You might say that this was one high-profile antenna that got some great reception: The remaining 16 elements of the Empire State Building's 32 element Alford Antenna attracted lively and profitable bidding at a charity benefit auction in April. According to a report on the Radio World website, a total of $7,549 was raised for the Society of Broadcast Engineers' Ennes scholarship fund.

The antenna, which was installed on the Manhattan skyscraper in 1965, was decommissioned in 2019. At one time it served as many as 16 FM broadcast stations. The individual elements weigh about 100 pounds, or 45 kilograms, each but thanks to this successful auction, they will carry even more weight in helping support the careers of future broadcast engineers.

This is Jen DeSalvo, W9TXJ

(RADIO WORLD)

**
STUDENTS GET FREE ONLINE LESSONS ABOUT WEATHER SATELLITES

JIM/ANCHOR: A free online course is teaching students why weather satellites remain an important resource to preserve our quality of life. Sel Embee KB3TZD tells us about those lessons.

SEL: Even as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is halting support for a number of its weather satellites, the importance of these collectors of data and imagery from space remains key to understanding our changing climate. Students in grades 8 through 12 here in the US are getting an opportunity to learn more about these satellites and their contributions to the study of long-term climate behavior through a free online series offered by the AMSAT Youth Initiative.

The coursework is designed to let students progress through the material independently. The first installment is called "An Introduction to Satellite Meteorology," and will be followed by the next release in June. Future topics include Wildlife and Natural Resources, Navigation, Climate Change and Pollution Control.

Visit buzzsat-dot-com, that is b-u-z-z-s-a-t-dot-com (buzzsat.com), to see more details about the course.

This is Sel Embee, K-B-3-T-Zed-D.

(AMSAT NEWS SERVICE)

**
LONGTIME ELECTRONICS SUPPLIER SHUTS DOORS IN US

JIM/ANCHOR: Another business that was a reliable supplier of electronics for ham radio operators has closed its doors. We have those details from Jack Parker W8ISH.

JACK; Since it was founded in Florida in January of 1972, Marlin P. Jones & Associates gained a loyal following among amateur radio operators looking for everything from power supplies to electronic switches and other components.

The family-owned business closed its doors on the 9th of May and announced on its website that it would no longer be taking phone calls after the 23rd of the month. Its remaining inventory was purchased by another company in Florida - Skycraft Surplus.

Positive reviews of the company’s customer service and the quality of its products reflect the satisfaction that hams and other purchasers of electronic components received after doing business repeatedly with the company, which was also known as MPJ & Associates.

The company's website gave no reason for the closure. A statement said simply: [quote] “It has been an honor to have done business with you.” [Endquote]

This is Jack Parker W8ISH.

(MPJ & ASSOCIATES, EHAM.NET)

**
SPECIAL EVENT FOLLOWS TRAIL OF 19TH CENTURY EXPLORERS

JIM/ANCHOR: Just as the American explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark tied the landscape of the early North American West together via their travels in the early 19th century, more than 30 ham radio clubs in 16 states are carving out a trail of communications along that same route. Radio operators are calling CQ from May 31st through to June 15th in the Dakotas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky and other states that were eventually established within the explored territory.

The special event, Lewis & Clark Trail On the Air, has expanded since its launch in 2022 with the Clark County Amateur Radio Club in Vancouver, Washington state. Now it encourages chasers to try for contacts of one club in each of the 16 states - or one of two bonus stations who are representing the Jefferson Indian Peace Medal. The explorers handed these medals out to the chiefs of tribes they encountered during their expedition. For information about certificates or participating clubs, visit the website L C T O T A dot org for details (LCTOTA.org)

(LCTOTA.ORG) through Allstar, in Morrisville Pennsylvania and Fall River Massachusetts.
**

LUXEMBOURG ISSUES POSTAGE STAMP FOR IARU's CENTENARY

JIM/ANCHOR: Luxembourg's postal service is joining the celebration of the IARU's 100th birthday, as we hear from Jeremy Boot G4NJH.

JEREMY: One hundred years ago, Radioamateurs du Luxembourg was among the organisations representing radio amateurs from 23 nations at the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union in Paris, France.

Celebrating the centenary and showing pride in Luxembourg's role, the Post Philately of Luxembourg has issued a postage stamp and a matching postal card marking the anniversary. The stamp will be released in the weeks ahead and will be available for purchase at the Radioamateurs du Luxembourg booth at Ham Radio Friedrichshafen in June. Until then, pre-orders can be sent via email to the address that appears in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org.

**
SPECIAL EVENT OPERATORS RECALL HISTORIC JOHNSTOWN FLOOD OF 1889

JIM/ANCHOR: A devastating flood in the late 19th century left its mark on western Pennsylvania. Amateur radio operators are on the air as a reminder of this painful history of the Johnstown Flood. Here's Travis Lisk N3ILS with details.

TRAVIS: In a community 60 miles east of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the disaster has come to be known as the Great Flood of 1889. What began on May 31st of that year ultimately claimed more than 2,200 lives in the western part of the state. The deadliest dam burst in US history followed several days of heavy rainfall, as more than 20 million tons of water rushed uncontrollably into the heavily populated valley. Johnstown, in Cambria County, had the misfortune to be just 14 miles downstream from the dam.

It had 30,000 residents, many of whom were crushed by the sudden, unexpected rush of flood waters.

This is history that is personal to many in the region and amateur radio operators are no exception. They will be on the air starting on Saturday the 24th of May through to the 6th of June, operating from the Johnstown Pennsylvania Flood Museum calling CQ. They are using the callsign N3N and will be on HF and 2 meters. The special event is taking place in cooperation with the Cambria County Pennsylvania Emergency Services and Skywarn Storm Spotters of Western Pennsylvania. Emergency responders know well: Tragic flooding revisited the region again in 1936 and 1977 but neither of those floods compared to this one, which is considered the kind of storm that happens once every 1,000 years.

This is Travis Lisk N3ILS.

(EDDIE MISIEWICZ, KB3YRU; HISTORY.COM)

**
DEADLINE NEARS FOR 'YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR' NOMINEES

JIM/ANCHOR: If you have delayed nominating a candidate for the Bill Pasternak Memorial Young Ham of the Year Award, don't wait much longer. The deadline for nominations is the 31st of May. If you know a promising young amateur who is 18 years of age or younger here in the continental United States, let us know. If they have talent, promise and a commitment to the spirit of ham radio they might just be this year's award winner. Find application forms on our website arnewsline.org under the "YHOTY" tab.

**
WORLD OF DX

In the World of DX, Dave, G4WXJ, will be on the air as ZC4RH from the British Sovereign Area on Cyprus, IOTA number AS - ØØ4, from the 14th through to the 20th of June. Dave will be using CW, SSB, FT8 and FT4 on 40 through 6 metres. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

Emir, OE1EMS, is using the callsign E77DX from Sao Vicente Island, IOTA number AF - Ø86, in Cape Verde. He will be participating in the CQ WW WPX CW contest on the 24th and the 25th of May. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

A team of operators using the callsign VU7T can be heard from Lakshadweep Islands, IOTA number AS - Ø11, in the Arabian Sea. They will remain active through to the 28th of May on the HF bands. They will also be using the QO - 100 satellite. QSL via MØXUU.

JS6RRR, JI3DST/6, JJ5RBH/6, JR8YLY/6 are on the air from the Miyako Islands, IOTA number AS - 079, until the 18th of June, using CW, SSB and digital modes on 80 through 6m. See QRZ.com for QSL details.

(DX NEWS, DX WORLD)

**

KICKER: TIME FLOWS ON, THANKS TO 'FOUNTAIN" OF UNPRECEDENTED ACCURACY

JIM/ANCHOR: Have you got a second? Well, it only takes a second - actually, a few minutes - for our final story, which introduces an important new atomic clock that's been put to work at the official US headquarters of timekeeping in Colorado. Here's Kent Peterson KCØDGY.

KENT: Keep your eye on the clock, especially if you've been recording your QSOs like the rest of us, in Coordinated Universal Time. A new atomic clock at the National Institute of Standards and Technology has been operating since April at NIST's Boulder, Colorado offices. It will soon have a bigger job as part of a group of timekeepers around the world that assists with the calibration of UTC. Known as NIST-F4, the clock is still awaiting certification by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures before that can happen.

Until then, its unprecedented precision is already hard at work defining the official time here in the United States.

Its creators call it a "fountain" of precision because the cloud of cesium atoms inside the clock oscillate at a rate of more than 9 billion times per second, rising and falling in the same way water does in a fountain. Its resonant frequency is 9 billion, 192 million, 631 thousand 770 hertz - to be precise. That is the frequency that sets the standards for all other clocks.

FRIDAY EDITION: Well it blew pretty good last night on the island, 50mph gusts but the antenna farm lives thru another one...

JUST IN: Amateur Spectrum Addressed in US House Reconciliation Bill

Milwaukee's 'ham radio' hobbyists are keeping amateur broadcasting alive

When radio first emerged, it was the Wild West of communication technology. Pioneers in the industry learned firsthand how to wrangle the power of this new tech by tapping into the radio frequency spectrum. These radio enthusiasts — or "hams" — set up their own amateur radio stations to communicate with other hobbyists around the world.

Locally, the Milwaukee Radio Amateurs' Club and Ham Radio Outlet serve as hubs for a dedicated community of aficionados who are keeping ham radio alive in the digital age. Journalist Tea Krulos wrote about them in this month’s Milwaukee Magazine, and he joins Lake Effect’s Joy Powers to share more. He says ham radio is almost like an early form of social media.

"In the same way that you might be curious about connecting with other people online, this was kind of a spin of the roulette wheel," he says. "You never knew who you were going to talk to, but you could have these conversations with interesting people all over the country and the world."

Through his grandfather, a carpenter who loved to tinker with radio equipment in his spare time, Krulos has a personal connection to the ham radio community. He says his grandparents' home had a room dedicated to radio equipment that Krulos' grandfather called his "ham shack."

"I have this fond memory of walking through the hallway," he says. "And I would hear this very distinct sound of my grandfather snoring because he had fallen asleep while talking on the radio and the sort of staticky crackle of people talking in the background."

THURSDAY EDITION: We are waiting for the NorEaster to hit later in the day, no big deal with no snow and just rain...Buy bitcoins they said....

An F-35 stealth fighter flying in Texas sent classified data to an air base 5,000 miles away in Denmark

The US defense contractor Lockheed Martin said one of its F-35 stealth fighters sent classified data from Texas to a command center about 5,000 miles away in Denmark, calling this a milestone and a successful demonstration of how systems work together.

Danish military F-35s flying out of Fort Worth exported the data via DAGGR-2, made by Lockheed’s Advanced Development Programs, also known as Skunk Works. The command-and-control system then passed the classified information through commercial satellite communications to Denmark’s Skrydstrup Air Base.

In a statement on Monday, Lockheed said that “this is another success in a series of Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) demonstrations proving the F-35’s ability to serve as a powerful force multiplier, enabling allied forces to rapidly deploy ready-now capabilities to connect systems across the battlespace.”

Read more – Business Insider: https://bit.ly/4dLldZf

Make Your Own Telescope, Right Down To The Glass